Dudman Deserves Decoration: Augusta, Gone

Augusta, Gone recounts the personal narrative of Martha Tod Dudman.  This book displays a different side to the usual anorexic, drug abusing, adolescent teenager girl novel, because instead of being written by the child, who is experiencing the transformation from a girl to a woman, the book is from the mother’s perspective.  The very first to the last page of the novel is action packed with stressed out, conflicting, morose, invigorating, and high-strung emotions that never stop.  It is incredibly easy for a reader to be sucked into the book with all of its descriptive language, and practically feel like they are in the house, institution, car or anywhere else that a scene occurs.  Although it is one of the two books that Martha Tod Dudman has ever written, this autobiography truly shows that it doesn’t matter if you are an amateur to the writing profession because she created a remarkable book.

The book opens and immediately exhibits the tensions between Martha and her daughter Augusta.  Augusta is around the age of twelve, attending middle school, when societal pressures start to play a great influence on her life and actions.  As Augusta ages a little, her behavior changes drastically.  Her personality has completely altered from a sweet innocent little girl to a pot smoking, acid tripping, sneaking out, deceptive, teenager.  Life at home becomes hell, as Augusta and Martha have intense battles.  After dealing with the insanity for over a year Martha finally decides to send Augusta away for behavioral treatment.  The rest of the book discusses what happens to Augusta in the camps that she has been sent to, and how her mother endures all of the hardships that are still to come.

This engaging novel is appealing for many reasons.  The vivid, graphic, and highly descriptive words and incidents makes it as easy as eating a banana split, to visualize what is occurring.  One example of Dudman’s expressive language is displayed in a quote describing how she snuck out when she was a child.

“But then, seventeen, stoned, at the bottom of the stairs.  Unlock the door.  The chain first.  Don’t let it drop down, fall against the door.  The navel of the doorknob next, the turning of the knob.  All done in utter silence.  Then open the door.  Only a little, because at about sixty-five-degrees it starts to screek.  Slip out.  Close the door.  Don’t get cocky now.  Close the door silently and pull it shut.  Stand a moment, listening, listening, and then – now don’t get cocky! – down the stars.  One stair, the other, one more, two.  The sidewalk and you feel that jumping leap, that lively, light stepped fantasy – the night!”

The cunningness of this quote enables the reader to clearly comprehend every step and every thought that went through Dudman’s mind while she was sneaking out of her house.  As a result the reader gains a greater appreciation for the book because they feel like they are actually right along side of Dudman taking each step with her.

            Another example that helps portray how descriptive Dudman’s words are, was when she is struggling physically with Augusta to keep her from running away.  She states,

“…So I lurch back, dragging Rain.  Phoebe is sitting on the steps staring at us.  There’s confusion, yelling, fighting, Augusta, kicking out, kicks Ben.  Kicks me.  We drag her stuff her back into the backseat.  Ben holds her down, and as we back off down the drive I see Rain lying on the ground with Jenny on her, holding her down.  It’s as if our girls were wild criminals.  As if we were the cops.” 

The essence of this quote truly demonstrates how clear and easy Dudman makes her writing to illustrate the chaos that she was dealing with.  “It’s as if our girls were wild criminals.  As if we were the cops”, really makes the reader think about policemen chasing convicts down a road, slamming them to the ground, and arresting them.  Overall Dudman’s language although simple, brings the story to life.

            I recommend this book to everyone ages fifteen and up.  Personally, I usually don’t enjoy reading, however, this book kept my interest throughout.  This book could be very interesting for a teenager, to see how a parent endures the hardships that her child puts on her.  It is also informative and intriguing for an adult, to see how another parent underwent the obstacles that her child put her through.  I will recommend this book to my parents, so they can see what a good child I am, and hopefully praise me for my good behavior.